Traverse City, Life on the 45th Parallel

Located on the 45th Parallel, Traverse City Michigan is an exciting and beautiful place to visit, or call home. Below are some highlights as to why Traverse City is such a wonderful place.

Beaches

Traverse City and its surrounding areas have miles of beautiful beaches,are you going back to the same beach every visit ? Switch it up next time and explore some of your other beach day options such as Northport, Empire, Suttons Bay and Glen Arbor. Click Here for a list of local beaches.

Hiking, and biking

The Best Way to take in the sights and smells of the season is to get out and explore nature’s true beauty. Traverse City offers many biking and hiking trails for the outdoor adventure seeker. Click Here for a list of trails.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Part of the national park system since 1972, Sleeping Bear is one of Americas most beautiful landscapes. Spanning 64 miles with beautiful freshwater beaches, wilderness islands and hiking trails.

There are many different areas of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Click Here to find which spot is right for you.

Boating

Nestled between sheltered hills, Grand Traverse Bay combines the advantages of deep water and protection from storms. With nearby marinas, shopping, and dining options, it is no wonder why Boating Magazine named Traverse City one of its “Ten Best Places to Live and Boat”

With an abundance of marinas and boat rental companies in the Traverse City area, one cannot resist heading out on the water. If driving a boat does not appeal to you, try one of the themed boating tours offered, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Fishing

The main event is the annual pacific salmon run, where thousands of massive chinook and coho salmon make their way upriver each. Click Here for some fishy information about the various types of salmon.

The best time to fish in the Traverse City area is in the Fall. As the water cools the fish become more active and eat more to fatten up for the cold Michigan winter.

Rent a boat and hit the lakes yourself or try your luck with a professional on a chartered fishing trip. Click Here for fishing charter information.

Golf

Photo of: The Bear Golf Course

Featuring 17 Championship golf courses, Traverse City’s courses were sculpted by massive glaciers that spread across the land over 8,000 years ago. Course Architects such as: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Jerry Matthews, Tom Weiskopf and Gary Player have all helped create beautiful courses in the area.

Like most things in Traverse City, Golf is most enjoyed in the fall. As the leaves begin to change, vibrant colors take over the land providing a one of a kind golfing experience. Click Here for course options and the 2015 Golf Guide.

Distilleries, Wineries & Micro Brews

Known as Michigan’s Wine Country, Traverse City is located directly on the 45th parallel and produces world class wine. With the same latitude as some of the most famous wine regions of France and Italy, it is not by chance that Traverse City’s conditions are perfect for wine making. Click Here for winery location information.

Named “one of America’s three newest Emerging Beer Towns” by Draft Magazine, Traverse City is home to 17 microbreweries, brewpubs and craft brew taprooms. The Old Mission and Leelanau peninsula’s (great place to grow fruit) are now being utilized to grow hops as well, making the beer all the more exciting. Check out Traverse City Beer Week in November to get a full week of beer themed events. Click Here for a list of microbreweries and brewpubs.

Producing spirits such as brandies, hand crafted vodkas and whiskeys, Traverse City has a breadth of local distilleries. Whether you go to a tasting room or not, be sure to ask for local spirits when ordering a cocktail at your favorite place to dine. Click Here for a list of local distilleries.

Casinos

Featuring multiple casinos owned and operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Leelanau Sands located in Peshawebstown (just north of Suttons Bay) and the Turtle Creek casino, located in Williamsburg. Both Casinos offer blackjack, stud poker, craps, roulette and over 200 slots. Click Here for location information.

Photo of: Leelanau Sands Casino

Restaurants

Photo of: Trattoria Stella

Locally sourced fruits, vegtables, meats, cheeses and wines make for unforgettable meals. One of the country’s “Top Five Foodie Towns” said Bon Appetit Magazine. With too many restaurants to even begin naming, Traverse City is a food lovers dream. Come and experience the flavors of the land mixed with the talents of the areas best chefs. Click Here for restaurant information.

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